Iran Will Be Safe in Hong Kong: Mixu Paatelainen

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Hong Kong coach Mixu Paatelainen said that Iran football team will be safe in Hong Kong and they can prepare for the upcoming match and there's no problem at all.

- Sports news -

Last week, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation turned down a request from the Football Federation of Iran to move the game outside Hong Kong due to the protests that have hit the city over the past three months.

The East Asian football team will host Iran at the Hong Kong Stadium in Group C of the 2019 World Cup qualification on Tuesday at the Hong Kong Stadium.

"One thing I know is that Hong Kong is a safe place for any team to come and play," said the former Dundee United and Bolton Wanderers striker.

"Protesters don't come to protest against these teams who come here to play sport. There's no problem at all. I know that the Iran team will be safe and they can prepare here and there's no problem at all," Paatelainen added.

"I'm aware of the protests, but we don't pay any attention to those things. We prepare for the task in hand and put the political issues aside," he said.